In light of upcoming exams, stress may be on the rise among students. However, students should take extra precautions against falling prey to stress. The physical tolls that stress takes on the body affects homeostasis in the brain and can actually cause the prefrontal cortex to shrink. This portion of the brain controls metabolism, emotions, self control, and the ability to adapt.

Studies have pinpointed which types of stress affect which part of the brain. Stress from a life trauma (more of a prolonged circumstance) can shrink the mood centers of the brain and cause depression and anxiety disorders. Stress from single life events affect emotions and can cause inappropriate emotions or a lack of emotions. Chronic stress from day to day activities does not pose an immediate threat to the size of the brain, but may gradually shrink the prefrontal cortex. This could lead to a person having an unusually difficult time when faced with adversity or life trauma because his or her brain has already eroded from former stressors.

While these are alarming studies in adults, the results are even more of concern for children. Stress and traumas experienced by children can shrink their brains in the area associated with fear and threat. Because the brain is still forming at this time, the damage may be more definitive. Social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of children can be affected. If already affected by stressors in life, maintaining current brain health and even reversing some of the effects of stress may be possible through exercise, meditation, and positive social relationships.

Park, Alice. “Study: Stress Shrinks the Brain and Lowers Our Ability to Cope with Adversity | TIME.com.” Time. Time, 09 Jan. 2012. Web. 31 Jan. 2013.